Going airsoft: WWII autos face off

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by J.I. Galan

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There's no arguing two the most famous and efficient military sidearms of the WWII period are the .45 ACP Colt 1911Al and the 9mm Walther P-38. Given these guns' huge reputations and respective service records, it's not surprising to find airsoft clones of both, faithful enough in looks and function to satisfy even the most nitpicker of us. Both of these are gas-powered and feature incredibly realistic blowback function, propelling their plastic 6mm BB amino at muzzle velocities of approximately 325 fps.

The airsoft 1911A1 tested is manufactured by KWA in Taiwan. KWA has been a leading producer of gas-powered softies for a long time, with a wide array of models to their credit. The sample we had is so realistic it would be indistinguishable from a real 1911 were it not for the government-mandated red marking around the front of the slide. The slide is actually made of metal, while the lower frame is molded ABS. Finish is an authentic-looking matte black. The heavy zinc alloy magazine has capacity for up to 14 6mm BBs and also doubles as the gas reservoir. So-called Green Gas is the preferred source of power, although propane gas can also be used by means of a special nozzle adapter available from several major airsoft retailers on the Internet. Although airsoft gas has become scarce in recent months, it's still available through local airsoft sources.

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Sporting basically the same dimensions as the real Colt, the KWA airsoft copy tips the scales at 1.5 pounds, thus being about one pound lighter than the real deal. For all practical purposes, though, the weight difference is not that significant, as the softie truly feels quite hefty and solid in the hand, especially with its traditional checkered brown grip panels.

As far as function, this 1911 will also astound. The traditional single-action trigger was crisp and responsive. The grip safety is also there and works as in the original. Ditto for the manual safety catch at the left rear of the frame. The basic fixed rear sight and shallow front blade are also there. Of course, this airsoft pistol can also be field-stripped just like the real McCoy, a valuable feature handy for training purposes. Surprisingly, this softie is devoid of any markings, something not terribly important unless you want no-holds-barred realism.

The P-38

The airsoft copy of the Walther P-38 tested is the version produced by Maruzen in Japan and distributed in the U.S. by Umarex USA. The Maruzen company is also famous for their many gas-powered airsoft pistols and a few subguns such as an amazing select-fire blowback copy of the compact Czech Skorpion. The airsoft P-38 features molded ABS construction throughout. Unlike the airsoft 1911A1, the P-38 softie bears realistic wartime markings. The left side of the slide, for instance, has the P.38 model designation clearly marked, followed by the German wartime production code ac41, indicating Walther production from 1939 to 1945. There's also a serial number on both the slide and the frame. The right side of the slide bears the German "F" proof mark within a pentagon, as well as two tiny German eagles above the number 359. The brown plastic grip panels of the softie also faithfully imitate the original bakelite panels of the real wartime P-38.

Function of the airsoft P-38 is like the real deal, with a gas-powered double-action blowback mechanism. The metal magazine takes up to 12 6mm BBs and also doubles as the gas reservoir. All controls operate just as in the real P-38. The manual safety catch drops the cocked hammer safely and blocks DA operation of the trigger, again as in the real thing. The slide reciprocates rather vigorously as well. Also like the Colt softie, this P-38 clone can be field-stripped like the original. Incidentally, the airsoft P-38 weighs a comfortable 13 ounces, in contrast to the approximately 2.1 pounds of the real P-38.

Do They Work?

Both models performed flawlessly during tests, with remarkably similar results. Both printed groups averaging 4" across at seven yards, with enough oomph to scatter lightweight plinking targets such as empty pop cans. Loaded with .2 gram (3.08 grain) airsoft BBs, they even managed to drill some of the cans fairly consistently. Both pistols averaged two to three magazines per filling of gas. Their subdued "pops" on firing are not likely to attract attention in a backyard setting, so long plinking sessions should not be a problem. Incidentally, both of these models have adjustable "Hop-Up" mechanisms allowing shooters to impart variable backspin to the BBs in order to obtain flatter trajectories.

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There's no doubt both of these very different, but nevertheless brilliantly designed handguns have earned prominent places among the world's top autoloading pistols. The airsoft versions of these famous sidearms truly offer extreme sophistication and realism in almost every respect.